What Researchers Did
Researchers searched seven major databases and pooled data from 16 studies (1,324 patients total) to evaluate how well HBOT addresses non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease, including anxiety, depression, sleep, cognition, and swallowing.
What They Found
HBOT significantly improved scores on both the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale (both p < 0.05) compared to control groups. Cognitive assessments (MoCA and MMSE), sleep scales (PDSS and PSQI), swallowing ability (Kubota's test), and motor function (UPDRS III) all showed statistically significant improvements. Sleep efficiency and total sleep time also increased with HBOT.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Non-motor symptoms like depression, anxiety, and poor sleep often cause more day-to-day suffering for Parkinson's patients than the movement problems themselves, yet they are harder to treat with standard medications. This large meta-analysis suggests HBOT can meaningfully address these overlooked symptoms. Canadians with Parkinson's who struggle with mood, cognition, or sleep despite medication may benefit from discussing HBOT with their neurologist.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
HBOT protocols varied substantially across the 16 included studies, making it impossible to recommend a specific pressure, duration, or number of sessions based on current evidence.